Ceanothus plant named ‘Lemon Ice’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Ceanothus , ‘Lemon Ice’, characterized by its variegated foliage with dark green centers and wide yellow margins and its panicles of sweetly fragrant light blue flowers.

Botanical classification: Ceanothus hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Lemon Ice’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ceanothus of hybrid origin, and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Lemon Ice’. ‘Lemon Ice’ is a new cultivar of deciduous shrub for use as a landscape plant.

The new cultivar of Ceanothus was discovered as a naturally occurring branch mutation of Ceanothus ‘Blue Mound’ (not patented) in a container in the Inventor's nursery in June of 2004 in Ederveen, The Netherlands. Ceanothus ‘Blue Mound’ is believed to be a hybrid of C. thyrsiflorus var. griseus and C. impressus.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished using terminal stem cuttings by the Inventor in Ederveen, The Netherlands in August 2004. The characteristics of this cultivar have been determined to be stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in 10 liter containers for four years in Ederveen, The Netherlands. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Lemon Ice’ as a new and unique cultivar of Ceanothus.

-   -   1. ‘Lemon Ice’ produces variegated leaves with dark green         centers and wide yellow margins.     -   2. ‘Lemon Ice’ produced panicles of sweetly fragrant light blue         flowers.

The closest comparison plant to ‘Lemon Ice’ is the parent plant, ‘Blue Mound’. ‘Blue Mound’ differs from ‘Lemon Ice’ in having leaves that are non variegated. ‘Lemon Ice’ can also be compared to the cultivar ‘Perado’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,433). ‘Perado’ is similar to ‘Lemon Ice’ in having variegated foliage, however ‘Perado’ differs by having leaves that are smaller in size and flowers that are blue-violet in color while the flowers of ‘Lemon Ice’ are lighter blue and less violet in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrates the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of a 4 year-old plant of the new Ceanothus as grown outdoors in a 10-liter container in Ederveen, The Netherlands.

The photograph FIG. 1 is a side view and illustrates the overall habit and foliage coloration of ‘Lemon Ice’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the foliage and variegation pattern of ‘Lemon Ice’

and the photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the flowers of ‘Lemon Ice’.

The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Ceanothus.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 4 year-old plants of the new Ceanothus as grown outdoors in 10-liter containers in Ederveen, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General plant characteristics:     -   -   Plant type.—Deciduous, perennial shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Upright, spreading.         -   Blooming period.—Spring (May), occasional repeat flowering             occurs in September and October.         -   Height and spread.—Average of 74 cm in height and 55 cm in             width in a 10-liter container.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 7b.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to             diseases or pests has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous. -   Growth and propagation:     -   -   Propagation.—Terminal stem cuttings, roots appear in about             45 days at 20° .         -   Growth rate.—Moderate to vigorous, an annual growth rate of             about 25 cm per year. -   Stem description:     -   -   Shape.—Rounded, with 5 indistinct angles.         -   Stem color.—New twigs; 143A to 143B, mature bark; color             between N200A and N200B.         -   Stem strength.—Very strong.         -   Stem surface.—Glabrous, slightly glossy.         -   Stem size.—Lateral branches average 22.8 cm in length and an             average of 2 mm in diameter, pinching is not required but             will improve the number of branches.         -   Branching.—Freely branched; average of 35 lateral branches.         -   Branch internode length.—About 2.4 cm. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Ovate to elliptic.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaf apex.—Rounded.         -   Leaf fragrance.—None.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, the vein color reflects the color of             the leaf; upper surface N137A to 139A in color on the leaf             center and N144D in color on the leaf margin, lower surface             144A to 144B.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire, undulate, finely serrate with about 6             serration per cm.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf number.—Average of 10 per lateral branch.         -   Leaf surface.—Smooth, very slightly glossy.         -   Leaf size.—Average of 3.5 cm in length and 1.8 cm in width.         -   Leaf internode length.—Average of 2 cm.         -   Leaf variegation pattern.—Margins are wide but irregular in             pattern.         -   Leaf color.—Newly expanded leaves upper surface; centers             139A with margins 144B to 145A, newly expanded leaves lower             surface; centers 137B with margins 143C, mature leaves upper             surface; centers N137A to 139A with margins N144D, mature             leaves lower surface; centers 137B with margins 143C.         -   Petioles.—Average of 9 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width,             145A in color, surface is smooth and glabrous.         -   Stipules.—None observed. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Compound axillary and terminal panicles             consisting of simple umbels.         -   Inflorescence number.—About 10 on a 4 year-old plant.         -   Inflorescence size.—Averages 2.8 cm in height and 1.9 cm in             width.         -   Flower quantity.—About 48 per inflorescence.         -   Flowering season.—Spring (May in The Netherlands),             occasional repeat in autumn (September and October).         -   Response time to flower.—Approximately 8 months.         -   Pedicels.—About 7 mm length and 0.5 mm in diameter, 143B to             143C in color, tinged 100C near the calyx, moderately             strong, held at a 45° to 90° angle to peduncle.         -   Peduncle.—About 4.8 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter, held             upright to stem.         -   Flower buds.—Globular in shape, 2 mm in depth and 4 mm in             diameter 101C to 101D in color, buds open in approximately 4             days from described stage.         -   Flower fragrance.—Slightly fragrant, sweet.         -   Persistence of flowers.—Self-cleaning.         -   Lastingness of flowers.—Flowers last about 1 week.         -   Flower type.—Single, star shaped with spreading petals.         -   Flower aspect.—Outward to upright.         -   Flower shape.—Rotate.         -   Flower size.—About 4 mm in diameter and 3 mm in depth.         -   Petals.—5, about 2.5 mm in length and 1.25 in width, petals             not fused, oblanceolate in and concave in shape, margin             entire, apex obtuse, rotate arrangement, surface smooth,             color of newly opened upper and lower surfaces; 101C, base             101D, fully opened upper and lower surfaces; 101C to 101D             with base lighter than 101D, mature petals fade to a color             lighter than 101D.         -   Sepals.—5, about 2.5 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width,             rotate arrangement with lower 20% fused, surface is dull and             glabrous, ovate in shape, margin entire, tip broadly acute,             color of immature upper and lower surface 94C, color of             mature upper and lower surface 94D.         -   Calyx.—Rotate in shape, about 2.5 mm in length and 3 mm in             diameter.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Seed production has not been seen to date. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistils1, about 1 mm in length, stigma cleft (3             parted) and 94D in color, style is about 0.5 mm in length             and 94D in color, ovary is 147 to 147 B in color.         -   Androcoecium.—Average of 5, anthers are basifixed, broadly             ovate and about 0.5 mm in length, filaments are about 3 mm             in length and 4D in color, pollen moderately produced and 4C             in color.         -   Fruits and seeds.—No fruit or seed set has been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ceanothus plant named ‘Lemon Ice’, as herein illustrated and described. 